Customer Manager

Advantage Solutions; Rogers (AR); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Advantage Solutions in Rogers, Arkansas is seeking a Customer Manager to drive sales and manage customer relationships. This role serves as a key connection between the Key Account Management Team and the assigned customers, focusing on increasing sales and distribution while executing strategic plans.

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of sales experience in the CPG industry. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of sales or retail experience and knowledge of the CPG industry.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge and experience with designated customers preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive clients’ business at assigned customer.
• Increase distribution and grow sales.
• Manage sales activities through analysis of customer data.
• Act as conduit between Customer and Key Account Managers.
• Manage and delegate KAM and Client Divisional Initiatives.
• Secure timely responses from customers.
• Conduct customer meetings focusing on promotional events.
• Build relationships with buyers and support departments.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to motivate and inspire

Good interpersonal skills

Conflict management skills

Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Customer Manager

The Customer Manager is a salesperson responsible for being the sales expert for designated customer(s), providing strategic customer insights, and ensuring joint business plans are executed. The role bridges the relationship between the Key Account Management Team (KAM Team) and all stakeholders at the assigned customer(s).

Our clients are manufacturers, vendors, or brands who have contracted Advantage as their sales force. Our customers are retailers, wholesalers, or distributors to whom we sell our clients’ brands. This teammate will collaborate with customers to develop strategic plans, work with retailer associates on Headquarter calls, and implement programs.

Responsibilities

• Drive clients’ business at assigned customer.
• Increase distribution and grow sales dollars, units, share, and other KPIs while staying within budget guidelines.
• Manage and coordinate sales activities through analysis of customer data, sales planning, and presentations.
• Act as conduit between Customer(s), Key Account Managers, and Clients through product line presentations, new item presentations, and display selling.
• Manage and delegate KAM and Client Divisional Initiatives such as achieving parity pricing, maintaining Team Business Trackers, photo request presentation, and special requests.
• Secure timely and accurate responses from customers to the KAM Team and Clients, including promotion forecast.
• Manage selling recommendations from customers to grow and build long‑term business.
• Attend and present in client meetings at designated customers.
• Attend and present in Management Team meetings.
• Conduct and manage customer meetings focusing on client promotional events and displays.
• Build relationships with buyers and support departments at customers, work with KAM to recommend growth plans, and assist with tactical issues such as POs, cost changes, contract execution, and ensuring retail/merchandising execution.
• Develop and leverage relationships with key influencers and decision makers in assigned customers.
• Sell displays, period promotions, present business reviews, and introduce new items.
• Build and present product distributions based on previous performance using customer scan data.
• Present pricing disparities in assigned customer based on client recommendations and achieve parity pricing inline and versus competition.
• Take weekly photos based on client request and needs.
• Acquire weekly pricing for clients based on their product(s).

Client Quota Achievement: Meets or exceeds client goals for sales, distribution, share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume; launches strategies to pursue new opportunities.

Client KPI Achievement: Implements retailer headquarter calls and penetrates key positions at the retailer to achieve sales goals, maintain accurate pricing and order guides, secure client‑approved schematics, ensure incremental sales through new product distribution, collaborate with category management, and manage accounts to achieve targeted ACV.

Business / Category Reviews: Builds and maintains effective client and retailer relationships, demonstrates sales accomplishments and opportunities, implements customer HQ calls, and offers strategic input for annual business plans.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports: None.

Indirect Reports: May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction, and mentoring.

Travel and Driving Requirements

Travel is not an essential duty of this job.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.

• 2‑4 years of sales or retail experience and knowledge of the CPG industry.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge and experience with designated customers preferred.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to motivate and inspire.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Conflict management skills.
• Excellent decision‑making skills.
• Exercise sound judgment.
• Work effectively with management.
• Ensure high level of service and quality.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and web browsers.

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary: Perform essential functions; sit for extended periods (66%+ of the day), hear phone, enter data on a computer, and lift up to 10 lbs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations for known disabilities and reserves the right to alter job responsibilities as needed.